We have been chopping off the tops of Champagne bottles as fast as we can drink them- who needs a stopper when you are ready to commit to finishing the bottle! One of our favorites was this magnum ($84.99) of Franck Bonville Brut Rosé that Mellyn expertly decapitated on Christmas Eve. It also comes in regular 750ml ($39.99) and half bottles ($21.99). Olivier Bonville adds 8% Pinot Noir Rouge from Ambonnay superstar Paul Dethune to his top class assembelage of grand cru, estate Chardonnay to create this fabulous rose. This is one of the most elegant, bright, refreshing rose Champagnes that we carry, yet it does not lack red cherry Pinot Noir authority. We can’t get enough- bring another to the block!

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Tasting with Oliver Krug

Upcoming Events

We host regular weekly and Saturday wine tastings in each K&L location.

For the complete calendar, including lineups and additional details related to our events, visit our K&L Local Events on KLWines.com or follow us on Facebook.

Free Spirits Tastings at K&L! Now that we have our license for spirits tastings in Redwood City and San Francisco, we’re excited to host regular free spirits tastings in those locations. Check the Spirits Journal for an updated tasting schedule.

All tastings will feature different products from the Spirits Department and take place on Wednesdays in Redwood City and San Francisco. Visit our events page on Facebook or the K&L Spirits Journal for more information.

Let's start off by thanking everyone who made it to our tastings this past Saturday. The first tasting of the year can be a tough one to guage - will people turn out, excited to once again have a Saturday tasting after a few weeks without one? Or perhaps people would want to take it easy after the holidays?

Well, as it turned out a lot of people wanted to taste some wines from Rioja and Ribera del Duero. And, since we only have the opportunity to do this a few times a year, we had the chance to open some good bottles: 1996 Viña Sastre Pagos de Santa Cruz Ribera del Duero, 1996 Bodegas Las Orcas Reserva Rioja, 1996 Finca Allende "Aurus" Rioja. In Redwood City we were fortunate to have a bottle of 1970 Viña Tondonia Blanco, a rare relic which, frankly, I was tired of passing by in the jewel rack without pulling it out and opening it for curious customers and staff.

Let's keep that Rioja feeling going this week. Based in the Rioja Alavesa town of Laguardia, Bodegas Las Orcas farms tempranillo as well as a bit of garnacha and graciano. Their wines are delicious, though at the same time they are serious and built for the long haul. Amongst tasters' favorite wines last Saturday was the 1996 Bodegas Las Orcas Reserva Rioja. At 15 years old, it has developed into a beautiful, aromatically complex, medium weight, silky wine, still showing fruit but with plenty of mushroom and sous bois notes to grab your attention. We hardly have any more of this wine left, grab some before it disappears.

People also enjoyed the younger and fruitier 2006 Bodegas Las Orcas Crianza Rioja. This is tasty now, though our experience with this wine suggests that, for those who prefer softer tannins and a bit more savory nuance, its optimal drinking period will not begin for another few years, and will continue through its 10th birthday.

Finally, the 2001 Bodegas Las Orcas Reserva Rioja is drinking great now, though it too will continue to reward cellaring.